To see if the Town will vote to amend Title I Article 1 Section 10(C) of the Town Bylaws to permit voice votes as "yes and no" or "yea and nay" at the discretion of the Moderator; or take any action related thereto.

VOTE: Favorable Action (5-0)

COMMENT: The Select Board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on this Article, which, if approved, would allow voice votes taken at Town Meeting to be conducted by “yea” or “nay” vote at the discretion of the Moderator, in addition to the “yes” or “no” voice votes that are already permitted. The Moderator, who spoke to the Board in favor of the Article, noted that this provision would make it easier to accurately gauge the prevailing side on a voice vote by volume because of the more similar sound of “yea” and “nay.” The Board notes that electronic and standing votes would remain an option under the bylaw should this Article be approved.

That the Town does and hereby amends title I, Article 1, Section 10(C) of the Town’s Bylaws, or take any action related thereto, so that the new provision of Title I reads:

C. Votes
All Votes, unless otherwise provided by law, shall may be taken in the first instance by a “yes” and “no” or “yea” and “nay” voice vote, or by an electronic tally at the option discretion of the Moderator. If the Moderator is in doubt as to the voice vote, or if five voters immediately question a voice vote, the Moderator shall call for a standing vote or an electronic tally, at the option of the Moderator. In an instance where the difference between the yes and no votes according to an electronic tally is less than 6 votes, then the individual votes shall be displayed. 

On all questions submitted for the consideration of the Town Meeting, when requested by thirty or more Town Meeting Members present at the meeting, there shall be a roll call vote, either by voice or by an electronic vote, at the option of the Moderator. If an electronic tally was previously taken on the question, the vote of each Town Meeting Member who voted electronically in the first instance shall be displayed and recorded. All roll call votes, oral or electronic, shall be recorded so as to indicate the individual vote of each Town Meeting Member who shall have voted. Said record of roll call votes, oral or electronic, shall be available as recorded at the Town Clerk's Office.  
 
Whenever a vote of two-thirds of the Town Meeting Members present and voting is required on any matter, the Moderator may declare a motion passed by a voice vote or electronic tally of at least two-thirds in favor. A standing vote or further electronic tally need not be taken unless required by law or these Bylaws. The Town Clerk shall record the Moderator’s declaration that the motion passed by a two-thirds vote in favor. 


The individual votes shall always be displayed if the margin of success of the prevailing side, calculated by subtracting the smallest number needed to prevail from the actual number of prevailing votes, is less than three.